Policy Advocacy

Every organization has the ability to participate in a debate. Hammer Strategies helps mobilize friends, make allies, and neutralize opponents with the media, policymakers and other influential voices.

Overview: When Microsoft's Digital Crime's Unit (DCU), which helps law enforcement around the world combat online child exploitation and cybercrime, sought closer ties to leading NGOs, policymakers and reporters in D.C., Ben Hammer helped organize a series of meetings, briefings and partnerships that raised the organizations effectiveness and profile.

Role: DCU is comprised of international former prosecutors, technologists and legal professionals that employ the latest tools and technologies to stop or interfere with cyber crimes. DCU has focused on combating online child exploitation, cybercrime against individuals, and other threats to consumer security and privacy. Hammer helped forge closer ties to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Facebook and other corporate partners, and leading staff at the Justice Department focused on these issues.

The Results: Hammer organized a 20- person elite, invite-only breakfast briefing with Facebook, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NGOs, Congressional Staff, and other leading advocates. The session featured a video about DCU's joint-development with a Dartmouth University professor of proprietary technology that helps identify, prosecute and convict the worst creators and distributors of online child pornography. DCU continued to have close relationships with major organizations and officials in D.C., and advocates for women, children and consumers across the country.